Cases for containers severable to form trays



E. N. BURNETT 3,043,490

CASES FOR CONTAINERS SEVERABLE TO FORM TRAYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 10, 1962 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 INVENTOR. EDWARD N. BURN ETT BY ATTOR N EYS July 10, 1962 E. N. BURNETT CASES FOR CONTAINERS SEVERABLE TO FORM TRAYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1960 FIG-3a R m m m EDWARD N. BURNETT BY AT TOR N EYS ain/5m! W July 10, 1962 E. N BURNETT 3,043,490

CASES FOR CONTAINERS SEVERABLE TO FORM TRAYS Filed Sept. 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.9

23a 41b 41gb INVENTOR.

EDWARD N. BURNETT BY ATTORNEYS TMM/ W finited rates 3,043,490 CASES FOR (IONTAINERS SEVERABLE TO FORM TRAYS Edward N. Burnett, Fremont, Mich, assignor to Gerber Products Company, Fremont, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 54,746 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) This invention relates to a new and improved construc tion of shipping cases having features whereby when the case is severed along a line parallel to but spaced upwardly from the bottom and the portion above the line of severance removed, one and preferably two or more trays are automatically formed. Such trays hold the containers, such as tin cans, plastic bottles or cartons, in approximately the position received from the cannery. The term containers is used herein to include cans, jars, bottles of glass or plastic, chipboard and cardboard cartons (e.g. for cereals) and related subject matter. Thus the trays may be used in a retail grocery store for convenient handling of the container after the shipping case is opened and may also be used to hold the container in place on shelf or display rack and provide more stability to the stock.

Accordingly, the present invention provides means whereby the retailer may be assisted in stocking shelves or handling containers in multiple units. Various other devices which :have been used for this purpose are awkward to handle particularly in that they must be stored between uses and hence are not usually avail-able at the right place at the right time. Further, being separate items, they must be separately manufactured, thereby increasing the cost. The present invention provides means integral with the carton as initially manufactured which comprises preferably a pair of trays. The portion above the trays may be used by the retailer as a carry-out box for the customer in the same manner as conventional shipping cases for containers.

In many retail stores, space requirements prevent stacking more than two rows of containers for each item. Inasmuch as conventional means for packing containers provides for twenty-four containers consisting of four rows of six containers each, the present invention provides a means whereby the contents may be separated into two trays each two containers wide, thereby accommodating normal shelf space available inretail stores.

A still further faeature of the invention provides for adaptation of the invention to those shipping cartons which are used to pack containers. It will be understood that dividers of an egg-crate type are used to separate containers such as glass jars from each other to prevent breakage. The present invention accommodates such egg-crate divider by simple modification of the construction of conventional separators.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the fact that it may he used in shipping cases wherein'the containers are stacked in two layers. Thus means is provided to sever the case at its midsection, thereby separating the layers and also to sever each half of the shipping case parallel to but spaced upwardly from the top (or bottom). In other respects the invention when adapted for use in cases for double layers comprises merely a duplication of the construction for a single layer. As a matter of convenience, tear strips may be incorporated in the construction of the case, which tear strips may be incorporated in the retailers to sever the case along the desired lines. Alternatively, the exterior of the case may be marked with suitable lines to guide the retailer in cutting the case with a knife or other opening instrument.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar char- 3,@43,4% Patented July 10, 1962 ice acters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton in accordance with this invention prior to assembly of the carton.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a divider fitting inside the carton.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carton partially assembled.

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary view of a portion of a side of a carton showing the tear strip construction.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing divider and containers inserted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the closed carton with tear strip partially torn away.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the trays and containers after the tear strip has been torn and top of the carton and dividers removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the trays stacked on each other.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 5 of a modification.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further modification for double layers of containers, partially closed.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing this modification of FIG. 10 severed into two halves, the top half being inverted.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of trays formed by severing the halves of FIG. 11 along tear strips and with the upper portions removed.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another modification.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a carton 11 or shipping case for glass containers. Such a carton is rectangular having, in accordance with common practice, a width to accommodate four containers 12 and :a length to accommodate six containers, or a total of twenty-four containers. The top of the case may, if desired, be constructed in accordance with conventional carton construction, namely the provision of a pair of inner flaps 13 hingedly connected to the upper edges of the end panels 14 and a pair of outer flaps 16 hingedly connected to the upper edges of the sides 17.

The bottom of the carton, however, is constructed in a novel manner. Thus the inner flaps 18 are formed with a central, longitudinally extended slots 19 having a Width twice the thickness of the material of which the carton is constructed. Such slots 19 have extensions 21 at each end extending upwardly for a short distance into end panels 14 such as one inch. The outer flaps 22 are each formed with tuck-in longitudinal edges 23 folded at right angles and extending longitudinally and each having a width of about one inch. In the assembled condition of the container, an adhesive is applied to bond the inner and outer flaps 18, 22 together, and the tuck-in edges 23' of the outer fi-aps extend through the slots 19 in the inner flaps and also in the slots 21 in the ends 14.

Extending entirely around the carton 11 at a level about one inch above the bottom is a tear strip 26 having terminal tabs 27in an end panel 14 which may be used to sever the ends and sides of the carton at about the level of the upper terminus of the slots 21. Tear strips 26 of this type are well understood in the container manufacturing art and generally are formed by imbedding tape 26 or string in the carton with a terminal tab 27 at eachend formed by cut lines in the carton and which may be gripped by the user and pulled, the pulling of i acts loo l% forations 25 assure a clean tear so that the edges will be straight and not ragged when the tear strip 26 is pulled.

In the alternate construction shown in FIG. 8, the tear strip 26 is eliminated and a dotted line 31 is printed on the exterior of the carton with a suitable legend 32 indicating that the user should cut the carton with a knife or other opening instrument along the dotted line.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-7, the carton 11 is intended for glass jars, and to prevent breakage of such jars there is conventionally employed an egg-crate divider 36 consisting of interfitting longitudinal strips 37a, b, c and transverse strips 38. Such eggcrate divider is modified to accommodate the tucked-in edges 23 of the outer bottom panels 22 by making the depth of the center longitudinal strip 37b less than that of the other longitudinal strips 37a, 370 by about one inch. Wider slots 39 are formed in the transverse divider strips 38 along the longitudinal centerline of the carton to prevent interference with said tucked-in edges 23.

It will be understood that Where metal, plastic or paper containers are used instead of the glass jars 12 the eggcrate divider 36 is unnecessary and is preferably eliminated.

In using the case 11 heretofore described, the case is assembled by gluing the bottom inner and outer flaps 18, 22 together and tucking the edges 23 of the outer flaps into the slots 19, 21. (See FIG. 3.) Prior to the glass containers being inserted, the egg-crate divider 36 is inserted, the shortened bottom edge of the central longitudinal strip 37b and the wider slots 39 accommodating the inturned edges 23. Thereupon the containers are packed in the carton in normal fashion (FIG. and the top sealed by folding the flaps 13 and 16 inwardly and gluing the top inner and outer flaps 13, 16 together (:FIG. 5.)

At the retail store or other location where the carton 11 is opened, the retailer pulls the projecting tabs 27 of the tear strip 26 and severs the ends 14 and sides 17 of the carton along the line 26 parallel to but spaced upwardly from the bottom a distance of about one inch, such tear strip intersecting the slots 21. Where the tear strip is not used as is shown in FIG. 8, the retailer performs the same operation by the use of a knife or special implement for opening cases of this nature along line 31. Once the case is severed, the portion above line 26 or 31 is lifted away and may be used as a carry-out container for purchases or for other purpose. Where the egg-crate separator 36 is used, the same is lifted out and discarded. Upon the completion of the foregoing described operation it will be seen that there is provided a pair of trays 41 (FIG. 6) each accommodating one-half the contents of the carton. Thus if the carton holds twenty-four containers 12, each tray 41 accommodates two rows of six containers each. The bottom of each tray 41 comprises one of the bottom outer flaps 22 plus one-half of each of the bottom inner flaps 18. One side of each tray 41 consists of a tucked-in edge 23 of the respective bottom outer flap 22. The other side 42 of tray 41 comprises the bottom edge 42 of side panel 17 below the tear strip 26. The ends 43 of tray 41 comprise the portion below line 26 of onehalf of each end '14.

The trays may be stacked on top of each other if desired (FIG. 7). In any event, each tray 4-1 holds a load of containers 12 in such manner that it may be moved from place to place in a retail store without risk of the containers sliding or falling. If desired, the trays may be placed directly on a shelf or in a display rack or bin. Inasmuch as the trays may be stacked on top of each other, proper rotation of the merchandise is assured since the latest delivered merchandise may be slid under the earlier delivered merchandise.

A further modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9-11 where the case 11a accommodates two layers of containers. In the particular form shown, the case 11a accommodates two layers of twenty-four containers 12 each, each layer having a width of four containers and a length of six containers. Preferably such containers are metal, plastic or paper and dividers 36 are eliminated. The depth of the sides 17a and ends 14a of the case shown in FIG. 9' is approximately twice that of the corresponding parts shown in FIG. 1. The bottom flap construction is substantially identical with that shown in FIG. 1, and accordingly the same reference numerals are employed followed by the subscript a to designate corresponding elements. The top flap construction of the modification of FIG. 9 is simply an inversion of the bottom construction and hence reference numerals followed by the subscript b are used to indicate parts corresponding to the bottom fiap construction. In order to divide the case in half, a tear strip 5'1 having terminal tabs 52 is located extending around the middle of the carton. Tear strips 26a, 26b and tabs 27!) perform the same functions for the bottom, and top halves, respectively as do strip 26 and tap 27 in the modification of FIG. 1. It will be understood that, as shown in FiG. 12, the tear strips 51, 26a and 26b or one or more of the same may be eliminated and suitable indicator lines 53, 54a, 54b and legends 56 printed or otherwise marked on the exterior of the case.

In using the form of the case shown in FIGS. 911, the retailer first severs the case along the middle tear strip 51 by pulling the tabs 52 or severing with a knife. The top half of the carton is then inverted (FIG. 10) and thereafter the two halves may be considered identical. In opening either half of the tear strip 26a or 26b is pulled and the portion above the tear strip lifted away, thereby providing four trays, 41a, 41b for the complete carton each identical with the trays '41 of the modification of FIGS. 7, 8.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton construction, opposed side and opposed end panels, outer and inner pairs of bottom flaps on either side of said carton joined to said panels, said outer bottom flaps having upturned tuck-in fiaps along inner longitudinal edges, said inner bottom flaps being cutaway for reception of said tuck-in flaps, said end panels being formed with slots of a length substantially equal to that of said tuck-in flaps and aligned with said tuck-in flaps, said slot comprising extensions of the cut-away portions of said innerflap, and means parallel to and spaced upwardly from the bottom edges of said panels to approximately the upper ends of said slots for severing said panels, said carton construction being characterized by the fact that when said panels are severed by said means the portion of said carton below said means comprising a pair of trays having low sides formed of said tuck-in flaps and the portions of said panels below said means.

2. A construction according to claim 1 in which said means comprises a tear strip extending around the side of said carton.

3. A construction according to claim 2 in which said panels are perforated above and below said tear strip, the perforations extending to but not through the inner walls of said panels.

4. A carton construction according to claim 1 which further comprises an egg-crate type divider vw'thin said carton, the bottom edges of said divider being cut away for reception of said tuck-in flaps.

5. In a rectangular carton construction, opposed side and opposed end panels, inner bottom flaps hinged to the bottom edges of said end panels, said inner bottom flaps being formed with first slots extending longitudinally thereof, said end panels being formed with short second slots comprising upward extensions of said first slots, outer bottom flaps hinged to the bottom edges of said side panels, short upwardly turned tuck-in flaps along the longitudinally extending inner edges of said outer bottom flaps and fitting into said first slots and said second slots, and means extending around said side and end panels defining means for severing said panels substantially at the level of the upper ends of said second slots to form a pair of trays, each having low sides formed of one of said tuck-in flaps in portions of said panels and a 7 bottom formed of one of said outer bottom flaps.

6. A carton construction according to claim 5 which further comprises an egg-crate type divider formed of a plurality of longitudinal and transverse separators, the bottom edges of at least some of said separators being cut away for reception of said tuck-in flaps.

7. -In a rectangular carton construction, opposed side and opposed end panels, inner bottom flaps hinged to the bottom edges of said end panels, said inner bottom flaps being formed with first slots extending longitudinally thereof, said end panels being formed with short second slots comprising upward extensions of said first slots, outer bottom flaps hinged to the bottom edges of said side panels, short upwardly turned tuck-in flaps along the longitudinally extending inner edges of said outer bottom flaps and fitting into said first slots and said second slots, inner top flaps hinged to the upper edges of said end panels and formed with third slots extending longitudinally thereof, said end panels being formed with short fourth slots comprising downward extensions of said third slots, outer top flaps hinged to the upper edges of said side panels, short downwardly turned second tuck-in flaps along the longitudinally extending inner edges of said outer top flaps and fitting into said third and fourth slots, first severing means extending around said side and end panels at about the level of the top edges of said second slots and second severing means extending around said side and end panels at about the level of the bottom edges of said fourth slots.

8. A carton construction according to claim 7 which further comprises third severing means extending around said side and end panels approximately midway between said first and second severing means.

9. A carton construction according to claim 8 in which each of said severing means comprises a tear strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,643 Megloughlin et a1 Nov. 26, 1901 1,925,298 Boeye Sept. 5, 1933 2,134,763 Lawless Nov. 1, 1938 2,436,997 Jacobsen Mar. 2, 1948 2,450,941 Crane Oct. 12, 1948 2,706,076 Guyer Apr. 12, 1955 

